Instrumentality of frame construction



Feb. 24, 1931. T. E. MARKLEY INSTRUMENTALITY OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION 6.1930 2 Sheets-5h86@ l a a :1 l l l l: s E z z l l l l l Filed Jan.

Feb.'24, 1931. T. E. MARKLEY 1,793,706

INSTRUMENTALITY OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Feb. 24, 1931 PATENT oFFicE THOMAS E. MARKLEY, F LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA INSTRUMENTALITY OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION Application filedJanuary 6, 1930. Serial No. 418,818.

This invention relates to improvements in means and instrumentalitiesfor making supports, frames and other constructions.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, eiiicientand inexpensive means designed for selective as well as interchangeableuse in different situations and at varying angular positions.

Another object thereof is to provide a series of interchangeable tubularposts so shaped, arranged and designed that t-hey may be used to buildbrackets, forms, display racks, and serve to give outline and body toinnumerable things constructed from wood or metal, and

R serving also to strengthen any given construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a light, strong,portable and interchangeable construction unit shaped to serve as abrace, gusset, stay or other supporting member in a structure consistingeither of rigid or movable parts, or else of semi-rigid and movableparts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction unitcharacterized by the feature of adaptability to various uses in thebuilding or construction line and lending itself readily to angularpositions and for removable exigencies.

A still further Objectl of this invention is to provide a smallconstruction unit serviceable interchangeably as a truss, a girder, acolumn, a brace, or a knockdown supportfor sinoportinothe weight of asuperincumbent or surmounted or attached part.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fastener andconstruction unit designed to receive the terminals of stay rods orsimilar parts for the purpose of supporting varying parts or objects inangular disposition, or for the purpose of movably mounting a part inangular position.

In carrying out the objects of this invention it is designed to providea tubular post or the like shaped to provide a series of slots so shapedthat each slot provides an angular or diagonal notch which communicateswith a base opening or hole. Rows of slots are provided incircumferential order and in a longitudinally alining series, and stayrods will have their terminals initially introduced into the diagonalparts of the slots to be ultimately lodged in the base openings thereof.The upper planes of the slots are spaced the greater distance fromsimilar slots of adjacent posts so that it allows the ends of a stay rodor brace bar or the like to be readily fitted into these slots, so thatwhen the rod is pressed downwardly both ends at the same time, they willbe wedged home in the holes forming he bases of these slots and thus befrictionally held against displacement in these slot-s.

Vith the above and other objects in view my invention consists in thecombination, arrangement and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specilication, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similarparts throughout the respective views,

Figure l shows four views, fragmentarily, of the same construction unit,but viewed at quarter turns apart, in side elevation,

Figure 2 is a cross section taken thru one of the construction units,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a bushing used in connectionwith the tubular post or construction unit,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bushing shown in Fig. 3,

Figure 5 is a front eleva-tion, partly in section, of a window shadehaving a stretch thereof disposed in angular formation to serve as anawning,

Figure G is a fragmental detail view, showing a method of assemblingcertain construction units,

Figure 6a is a perspective fragmentary view showing the parts of Figure6 just before assembly,

Figure .7 is an end elevation of parts shown in Fig. 5,

Figure S is a plan view ofV a blank from which construction unit is tobe made,

Figure 9 is a view showing the blank of Fig. 8 rolled into columnarform,

Figure l0 is a plan view of a bracket blank designed yto be shaped tovarying forms.

Vthe interchangeable construction units or he Figure 11 is a perspectiveview oi" a boxing employed by bending the blank shown in Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a perspective view ot' another bracket made from the blankshown in Figure 10,

Figure 13 is a perspective View of another and further bracket form madefrom a blank like that shown in Figure 8, and

Figure 14 is a fragmented detail view of a construction unit showing amodified wedge slot formed therein.

Referring to the drawing, which are merely Yillustrative ot' myinvention ll provide a tubular post, column or member made preferablyorP metal or rigid material. Flach tubular post is a construction unitprimarily designed for the purpose ot sustaining some extraneous part ofa construction. The tubular unit or post may broadly be designated 10and will be formed with a longitudinally spaced apart series ofcircumferentially arranged holes 11, which holes will preferably bearranged in sets that aline at diametrically opposite points as at 11and 11m or" Figure 2. Each hole is formed with an extension notch whichslopes angularly or diagonally oi the axis of the post so that its outeredge 12m may will be disposed parallel with the axis of the tubularpost. ln Figure 1 it will be perceive-l that there are four longitudinalrows of slots, the inclinations oi' the notches alternating in directionof slope, the units of slots oi? the four rows being designated 12, 12a,12 and 12?), as in Figure 1. ln other words, the slots of the four rowsstaggered, and their diagonal notches alternate in direction of slope.ln order to unite other hollow posts to certain posts, it is proposed tosnugly locate a bushing 13 in the open end of the post, or of each post,the bushing being internally threaded as at 141 so that asc'rew-threaded stem 22 of a mated post may he screwed i into theinternally threaded here 14e oi bushing to clamp one post onto the otherin alinement. Thus in Figure 1 the bushing M has the internal threadedbore il and, this bushing lits into one post and has screwed thereinto athreaded part oi' a mated post in a manner readily understood.

It is also proposed to proviee a knockdown frame or support as follows,by employs O l, low posts 10. Referring to Fi it will be readily seenthat one post 10g) n as the internal bushing 13m encased therein, whileanother and similar bushing 13 is snugly encased in the other hollowpost shown arranged parallel with the first mentioned post, bothbushings being internallv screw threaded so that a plug 29 also screwthreaded thruout its length will be threaded in part into the bushing13, and in part into the bushing 13m to act as a means of coupling bothposts. The openings 15 in the bushing will receive the threaded stem 32which is a reduced terminal carried at each end by a rod, bar, or otherstay member 31. rlhis stay member will preferably be a hollow posthaving a bushing therein provided with the stem 32, so after this stemhas projected thru openings 15 a jam nut Sel may be screwed upon thestem and clamp it ast the post 10 g 33 designates the threads on the stmin this manner making use entirelv of hollow construction units or posts1() a 'frame-work can be made consisting of vertical posts andhorizontal tays. Any height of tubing or columns may be provided bjmeans of the tubular posts in the manner herein shown.

rlhe fundamental idea underlying the use of the diagonal slots is tomake them receive the ends of a rod, bar or the like to retain them inconnected relation i'rictionally. Thus in Figure 9 the. end of a stayrod F is shown in dotted lines; it is seen how easily the end thereofmay be litted and introduced into thL uppermost ends of the diagonalslot 1?" i 5 then this end maybe forced downwardly into the hollowinterior oli the post until it comes to rest in the base hole 11b otthis slot, at which time a larger surface of' the terminal of this rodis .trictionally encased in the than was true when this end was introtheipper ends of the diagonal slot. is allows a rod to be manipulated in amore compact space than would be true itt the ends were designed to beintroduced directly into holes of adjacent posts.

lt is proposed to make the mountings, posts,

columns or the like oit sheet metal il' desired. For t uurpose use ismade oi' metal or other blanks as shown in Figure S where there will bestrmped or punched out therein the longitudinally alining rows ofdiagonal slots indicMLed as follows; the iirst row of diagonal slotswith their base holes take an upward and re rward slope and aredesignated l);

d row is staggered with respect to and slope in a counter direction,beiated E the third slope in staggered lation with reference to thesecond row, and desi ated F', sloping the same as the second row, whilethe last row are designated sloping the same as the iii-st row and'gered with respect to the third row. 'lhis ord and disposition is foundnecessary ior the reason that when this blank or sheet is rolled toprovino, the tube 10 or the tube shown in Figure 9 it is contemplatedthat the diagonal slots E have their base holes diametrically oppositeto the diagonal slots while the slots D will have their base holesdiametrically opposite to the diagonal slots F; while one set of slotswill be in registration as to their base holes their angular stems willincline in opposing directions. By alining the base holes oit' the rowsof these slots it permits the rod or terminals of any stay member to bereceived into these holes, both Vat the same time, for the opposing endsot'the rod. It is possible to shape blanks provided with the holes anddiagonal stems into various bracket and supporting members. Thus inFigure l() there is disclosed the blank which has the central portion 35tianked by forked portions the arms H, l-l, and d', at opposite ends otwhich have the intervening slits 39 to tacilitate the bending ot theseparts.` Tn Figure ll the parts ot the blank shown in Figure l have beenshaped to provide a boxing having the rear wall 38, the side walls 38',40, the bottom wall 39 and the base portion li. in the boxing the end ota hollow post may be clamped in the manner already described, while thebase portion ll is designed to be securedto any support desired. InFigure l2 the portions ot the blank ot Figure i0 has been shaped toprovide the elongated tlat member consisting ot the partsv 35, and H andJ- to which is joined the angularly bent channel-shaped bearing orbracket c(insisting` ot the upper part 85, and the lateral walls H', andJ respectively. it is also designed to provide the iorin ot bracketshown in Figure i3 where each Dnd has the stub i2, the inclinledge 43,and the main length oi body porH tion ot the bracket, the usual diagonalslots 12u being shown terminating in the base holes llaI in a manneralready described.

In Figure 14 there is disclosed a modification ot the diagonal slot otmy tubular post. Here a row of diagonal slots is provided consisting ofthe main hole 120 with which comniunicates the upwardly inclining notch12a,

there being also the laterally extending otiset notch 12d arranged atright angles to the axis ot the post l0. This notch extension 12dprovices a rectilinearily disposed seat for the terminal ot whatever rodor stay is introduced therein.

@ne practical use, to which my invention can be put, is illustrated inFigures and 7 where it is proposed to convert a window shade into anawning. Use is made ot vertical columns formed by screwing the threadedstems 2lot` upper hollow posts into the threaded bushings of lowerposts, the stems first passing thru anv ot the holes M or" thehorizontal arm 2O of the angle-iron bracket (whose vertical base portionis designated, this bushing being secured to the wall ot support) 2lsecured to the wall or support and the rightangular shell'I 2() thereinafter which it may be screwed home in the bushing of the lower post, sothe etl'ect is to clamp the adjacent ends ot two vertically aliningposts upon opposite sides ot the shelf ot the bracket. This having beendone, and the posts being f provided in a manner already explained withthe diagonal slots or rows thereot, a shade roller l? is taken and therounded and polygcnal pintles thereof, designated respectively 1S and.19 are separately positionec., the

rounded` pint-le being inserted in the round hole directly andy thepolygonal pintle. being let into a. diagonal slot andV pushed downwardlysoas to be trictionallyseatedy in the base holes thereof. Thispositionsthe shade roller properly, yetrallows the rounded pintle toturn in its hole. In thelower transverse portion ot the shade is locatedt-hel fabric sleeve 23 of the shade proper lr6, and inA this sleeve islocated a tube 25 in which is loosely encased a rod 2i whose endsproject beyond the sleeve and are received` into diagonal openings andbase holes oi slots invboth posts which iiank this shade. This wil-lhold; the shade 16 in vertical position but so that its lower end willnot rattle as' when a: strong wind' is blowing. Now by employing twootthe interchangeable posts (one being. shown in Figure 7') designated 23"it will be seen that the projecting ends ot rods llig fitting theseposts willv enter diagonal holes or slots in the posts 10 that extendvertically'and' are secured to the framework, which will position theinner ends ot theseposts 23 at right angles, and now the projecting endsotfthe rods 2d will enter slots in the posts 23, thus enabling the shade16 to incline downwardly and'outwardly ot the framework asr shown inFig. 7 and producing` the awning effect. I claim all variations iallingwithin the purview ot the appended' claims.

Vhat I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is l. Meansotproviding trame supports consisting of tubular posts havinglongitudinally spaced apart slots disposed' diagonally ot the length ofthe post and each terminating at one end in rounded holes.

2. Means otproviding trarne supports consisting of tubular posts, eachtubular post having sets ot diametrically opposite and alining holes,with diagonally disposedV and inclined odset notches forming elongatedcontinuations di ametrically ot said holes, the said notches ot aliningholes inclining in opposite directions.

3. Means of providing-trame supports consisting ot a tubular post, aninternal internally-threaded bushing carried by the post at either end:tor the-reception ot threaded pins of adjacent posts, the post beingformed with longitudinal rowsot slots, arranged in a' circumferentialseries, the members of each row ot slots consistingl ot a base hole anda n tchprolongation sloping therefrom at an angle, io the reception otthe terminal of a stay ro l. Means ont providing frame supportsconsisting of hollow elongated members, thread? ed connections carriedinterchangeably by said members for increasing the length of a memberlongitudinally, each member having two sets of diametrically oppositeslots, each slot of the sets of slots consisting ot'a rounded base holeand an inclining rectilinear notch arranged centermost of the hollowmember leading therefrom, the edges of each notch being parallel withthe axis of this member.

5. A frame-making instrumentality consisting of an interchangeabletubular post formed with an alining series of wedgeshaped slots disposeddiagonal of the axis thereof, each wedge-shaped slot having a closingedge at one end disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of the postand having at its other end an enlarged hole.

6. A frame-making instrumentality7 consisting of an interchangeablyselectively useable hollow post, the post having a set of diametricallyopposite holes, another set of diametrically opposite holes arranged atright angles to the first set of holes, a bushing internallyscrew-threaded and having diametrically opposite holes designed toregister with a diametrically opposite set of holes in a post whereby athreaded stem may be caused to project thru the holes in both post andbushing for cross-stay purposes, each hole in the pest having a diagonalslot extension following the curvature of the post.

7. A frame-making instrumentality consisting of an interchangeablypositionable hollow post, said post having longitudinally alining rowsof holes extending circumferentially thereof, the said holes alining atdiametrically opposite points of the post, diagonally arranged slotextensions formed so as to communicate with the several holes, andcoupling means carried internally at one end of a hollow post serving asa means of attachment in butting relation of a mated post.

8. A frame-making instrumentality consisting of a pair of hollow postsarranged in opposite positions, each post having circumferentiallyextending series of longitudinally arranged rows of holes, with diagonalnotch extensions communicating with said holes, and a stay rod designedto connect said posts at an angle thereto and having its ends receivedinto the diagonal extensions of both posts and let down to rest into thecommunieating holes thereof.

9. A means of support-making consisting of a series of interchangeablypositionable hollow posts, certain of the posts being arranged invertical formation, each hollow post having a longitudinally separatedalining series of slots, each slot consisting of a lower hole and anelongated diagonally' disposed notch, internally-threaded bushingscarried internally at the ends of certain posts, screw-saanlrs carriedat the ends of other posts designed to screw into the bushings tocontinue the length of the hollow post, and angularly-arranged hollowposts having rods projecting internally' and having projecting terminalsreceived initially in the diagonal notches of slots in the verticalposts and resting ultimately in the holes of said'slots to providecross-stays.

l0. A support-frame making unit consisting of a fiat metal sheet formedwith a plurality of longitudinally alining rows of slots, the slotsconsisting each of a hole with a diagonally extending notch leadingtherefrom, the inclinations of the diagonal notches of the slots of therespective rows of slots varying angularly, the fiat metal sheetdesigned to be shaped into angular or circular hollow formation to causethe rows of holes therein to aline.

ll. A support-frame making unit consisting of a flat sheet formed withfour longitudin ally extending rows of slots, each slot consisting` of abase hole with an inclined notch hailing angular-ly therefrom, the holesof said rows of slots being arranged in staggered relation, the inclinednotches of the slots of the several rows of slots alternately sloping inopposite directions, said sheet designed to be shaped into a-hollowpost.

l mApporting column for constructions no' of a hollow member having apair g diainetrically oppositely arranged l. s, each hole having anangularly sloping i extendino rectilinearly therefrom, to permit stay:od to have a terminal thereof i* troduced thru the angi'llar notch of aslot and pushed downwardly therein to rest lirmly in the hole thereof.

l 3. A supporting column for construction onsisting of a hollow memberhaving a bushing snu iy secured therein at one end, the bushing haringinternal threads and diametrically pposite holes, the hollow memberhaving longitudinally spaced apart diamo ricallj7 opposed sets of holes,any pair ol which may register with the diametrically opposite holes ofthe bi'ishing, each hole of the hollow member havin an angular-lydisposed diagonally extending longitudinally arranged notch extension.

11i. A bracket for supporting a shade roller consisting of a pair ofhollow posts each post having a row ot slots, each slot consisting of ahole and an inclined angular notch communicating therewith, the pintlesof the shade roller being introduced into the angulainotches andultimately resting in said holes, and means carried li said posts andengaging the lower end ol' ie shade of the roller for supporting theshade in angular' projecting position.

l5. ln eoml'rina tion, a frame, Va pair of brackets secured upon theframe at opposite sides thereof, each bracket consisting of a verticalbase and a rig itangular shelf. the shelf of each bracket having` ahole, a pair of tubular po t lyt s having' at their upper ends internal,l readed hores rej'stering with the bracket hole, means engaging thelower end of the post to secure the saine in vertical position, a secondpair of hollow posts, inserts secured into the lower ends of the secondpair of posts including threaded stems, the threaded stems being causedto project thru lil@ the holes of the shelves so as to screw home l intothe threaded bores of the posts to position and to clamp the upper postsin vertical alineinent with the lower posts, on opposite sides of thebracket shelves respectively, each post having circumferential series ofdiagonal slots with hole-shaped relatively wider base portions. p

16. In ay device as described, in combination a frame consisting ofoppositely arranged parts, a pair of vertical hollow posts secured infront of said oppositely-arranged parts, each post having verticallyalining rows of diagonally inclined slots, a shade roller having itspintles received in said downwardly inclined slots of both posts, a

sleeve disposed in the lowerrnost end of the shade of the shade roller,a rod projecting thru said sleeve with its ends projecting therefrom andextending towards said posts, a pair of hollow posts having each aterminal received in i'ixed relation within one of the inclined slotswhereby these posts extend forwardly at right angles to the other posts,the last-named posts also being formed with inclined slots receiving theprojecting ends of the rod of the shade whereby the shade may bepositioned at a downward and forward inclination from its roller.

In witness whereof he has hereunder set his hand this 17th day ofDecember, 1929. THOMAS E. MARKLEY.

